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The evolution of myelin : theories and application to human disease
Author
Source
Journal of Evolutionary Medicine
Issue
Vol. 5, Issue 2017 (31 Dec. 2017), pp.1-23, 23 p.
Publisher
Publication Date
2017-12-31
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
23
Main Subjects
Pharmacy, Health & Medical Sciences
Abstract EN
Myelin, once thought of as a simple insulating sheath, is now known to be a complex, dynamic structure.
It has multiple functions in addition to increasing conduction velocity, including reducing the energetic cost of action potentials, saving space, and metabolic functions.
Myelin is also notable for likely having arisen independently at least three times over the course of evolutionary history.
This article reviews the available evidence about the evolution of myelin and proposes a hypothesis of how it arose in vertebrates.
It then discusses the evolutionary trade-offs associated with myelination and suggests a possible animal model for further study of this phenomenon.
Finally, it briefly covers the neural regulation of myelination before discussing possible roles of myelin in human social cognition and evolution, and the relevance of this to human disease.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Knowles, Laurence. 2017. The evolution of myelin : theories and application to human disease. Journal of Evolutionary Medicine،Vol. 5, no. 2017, pp.1-23.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-812802
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Knowles, Laurence. The evolution of myelin : theories and application to human disease. Journal of Evolutionary Medicine Vol. 5 (2017), pp.1-23.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-812802
American Medical Association (AMA)
Knowles, Laurence. The evolution of myelin : theories and application to human disease. Journal of Evolutionary Medicine. 2017. Vol. 5, no. 2017, pp.1-23.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-812802
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 19-23
Record ID
BIM-812802